Modular component, arm, leg, and body stretching device with advance plate mechanism

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a modular component leg, arm, and body-stretching device. It includes a main advance plate component having a handle and at least one bar functionally connected to and capable of passing through the handle. The handle contains a one directional advance plate mechanism and a trigger wherein when the trigger is depressed, the bar(s) advance toward the handle. The handle also has a release mechanism to release the bar from the advance plate mechanism. The ratchet bar has an auxiliary component attachment at one end thereof for attachment, directly or indirectly, if a foot or hand auxiliary component. The foot auxiliary component is for leg and body exercise, and has a rigid base for placement of a foot thereon, having a foot securing mechanism to hold a foot in place. There is also at least one attachment for connection with the bar. The hand auxiliary component is also attachable to the bar, for arm and body exercises, and includes a handle for placement of a hand thereon and having at least one main advance plate component attachment mechanism for attachment to the bar. There may also be a yoke for connection between the main component and the auxiliary components.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/022,449, filed on Dec. 17, 2002, by thesame inventor herein, and entitled “Modular Component Arm, Leg, and BodyStretching Device.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to exercise devices for arm, leg,and body stretches. More specifically, the present invention relates toa modular component device which contains a main advance plate componentand separate foot and hand components which are removeably attachable tothe main advance plate component. Thus, a user may rely upon the samephysical mechanism to perform leg and body stretches and arm stretchesby interchanging the other modular components.

[0004] 2. Information Disclosure Statement

[0005] The following patents are representative of the state of the artfor leg, arm, and body stretching devices:

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,592 describes a leg multi-muscle stretchapparatus for physical therapy that includes a foot carriage mounted toa carriage guide track and permitting the foot carriage to move back andforth along a foot carriage path, for therapeutically stretching a userfoot and user leg with reciprocating motion, and a user supportstructure pivotally connected the carriage track. The apparatuspreferably additionally includes user handle grips and two elongate armmembers pivotally connected to the carriage guide track, where thehandle grips are connected to the elongate arm members. The user supportstructure preferably includes a platform structure including twoparallel and laterally spaced apart beam members and a planar web memberextending between and supported by the beam members. The apparatuspreferably additionally includes two cable and cable pulley mechanisms,each including a series of cables forming a cable loop extending alongthe user support structure, along the carriage guide track and along thearm members, and then back to the user support structure, and a seriesof pulleys rotatably mounted to the user support structure and to thecarriage guide track for guiding the cable loop being connected to thefoot carriage to reciprocate with the foot carriage.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,868 describes an exercise device including anelongated upright ladder section which has at an upper end a bodysupport section. There is a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surfaceand support in a stable, vertical orientation the upright section. Thebody support section includes a seat rest support member orientedsubstantially horizontally and adapted to be sat upon by a user and asecond support member spaced from the seat rest support member andadapted to be gripped by the user with either legs or hands depending onthe exercise being performed. A generally flat, planar, back support hasits upper end pivotally mounted to the seat rest support member and alower free end movable between a first position where the back supportis generally vertical and a second position where the back supportpivots and is at an acute angle with respect to the upright section.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,197 describes the present invention thatrelates to exercise equipment, more particularly to an exercise machinethat gives the exerciser a variety of movements based on a singleconcept (that of the pivot), working the whole body without having tochange equipment. The apparatus includes a frame having a seat, avertically extending rod pivotally coupled to the frame and a handlepivotally coupled to the end of the rod. The dual pivoting connectionsfacilitate an exercise movement similar to the paddling motion used witha kayak.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,154 describes an exercise device that has twoside bars each comprising a longitudinal segment extending between frontand rear legs. The angle and length of the front and rear legs producesan incline of the longitudinal segment. The angle of incline is variablebecause the front and rear legs are separately adjustable in length.Slip locks selectively lock each leg at a desired length. Cross barsconnected between the side bars by quick release locks. A centrallongitudinal bar parallel to the side bars extends between a selectedtwo of the cross bars and is connected thereto by quick release locks.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,697 describes a physical exercising devicethat is provided compromising a padded wedge-shaped base and astring-biased metal exercise bar. The exercise bar is attached near thewedge's apex and extends lengthwise parallel to the device at apredetermined distance from the wedge. The physical exercising devicehas its base formed from a lightweight material and additionally mayhave its body support surfaces covered with a layer of carpet or foampadding. The spring which has its one end attached to the exercise barhas its opposite end secured to the end panel of the wedge-shaped baseto provide a biasing force. The ends of the metal bar are insertedthrough apertures in the end panel and terminate in the interior of thephysical exercising device. The exercise bar may be of a unitary pieceof tubular metal or a single metal tube with two gripping portions whichmay or my not be independently operable.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,404 describes a leg stretching exercisedevice which has two platforms, each adapted to support a foot of anexerciser. Each platform is provided with ball casters which providesupport and allow free movement in a mutual plane. The platforms areattached so they may be placed in touching relationship and moved aparta predetermined distance by the exerciser. A rope connects a singlepoint on each platform. The connecting rope defines a loop which passesthrough eyelets, secured to each platform. An adjustable connection isprovided for varying the size of the loop as desired.

[0012] Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neithertaught nor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention is a modular component leg, arm, andbody-stretching device. It includes a main advance plate componenthaving a handle and at least one advance plate-activated barfunctionally connected to and capable of passing through the handle. Thehandle contains a directional advance plate mechanism and a triggerwherein when the trigger is depressed, the advance plate movement movesthe bar(s) toward the handle. The handle also has a release mechanism torelease the bar from the advance plate mechanism. The bar has anauxiliary component attachment at one end thereof for attachment, aimdirectly or indirectly, of a foot or hand auxiliary component. The footauxiliary component is for leg and body exercise, and has a rigid basefor placement of a foot thereon, having a foot securing mechanism tohold a foot in place. There is also at least one attachment on the footauxilary component for connection with the bar. The hand auxiliarycomponent is also attachable to the bar, for arm and body exercises, andincludes a handle for placement of a hand thereon and has at least onebar attachment for connection to the bar. There may also be a yoke forconnection between the main component and the auxiliary components.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, there is only amain advance plate component with either an auxiliary foot component oran auxiliary hand component, while in other embodiments, both anauxiliary foot component and an auxiliary hand component are included.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the security meansof the foot auxiliary component is a toe attachment means located on afront area of the rigid base. On other embodiments of the presentinvention modular component leg and body stretching device, the securingmeans of the foot auxiliary component is two separate side attachmentmeans, one being located on a first side of the rigid base and anotherbeing located on a second side of the rigid base, and located oppositeone another. In other preferred present invention embodiments, the toeand the two-side attachment means are all included.

[0016] On some preferred present invention embodiments, there is a yokehaving three separate elongated members, each having a first and asecond end and being connected to one another at the first end andhaving means for attachment to the main advance plate component thefirst end, and each being unconnected to one another at its second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention should be more fully understood when thespecification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appendedhereto wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 shows a front view of one preferred embodiment of a mainadvance plate component of a present invention modular component leg,arm, and body stretching device;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a front view of a present invention hand auxiliarycomponent for use in conjunction with a component shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a cut partial view of another present invention mainadvance plate component, illustrating alternative internal mechanicalfeatures;

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates an interconnecting yoke which is an optionalcomponent utilized in the present invention;

[0022]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a top view and a partial, cut rear view of onepreferred embodiment of the present invention auxiliary foot component;

[0023]FIG. 7 shows a side partial view of an alternative embodimentauxiliary foot component of the present invention device;

[0024]FIG. 8 shows a side partial view of another alternative embodimentauxiliary foot component of the present invention device; and,

[0025]FIG. 9 shows an alternative preferred embodiment main advanceplate component of a present invention device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a present inventionmodular component stretching device main advance plate component 1. Thisis the functional element of the present invention and FIG. 1 shows asingle bar preferred embodiment. Thus, main advance plate component 1includes a housing 3 with a handle 7 and a trigger 9 for grasping by auser's fingers. Thus, handle 7 is grasped with the hand, with thefingers curled toward the palm area around trigger 9 when in use.

[0027] There is a single one way bar 15 which passes through housing 3.By “one way” is meant that is functionally advanced in one direction(toward housing 3) by trigger 9 activation. It is capable of being movedin the opposite direction manually by sliding when a release is applied.Bar 15 has a protective stop 13 at its first end 11. Bar 15 also has asmooth, flat, continuous surface for advancement by reciprocal movementof trigger 9, spring 17, and advance plate 19. As its second end 23 isan orifice 25 and attachment ring 27, comprising an auxiliary componentattachment means. This is used to attach foot auxiliary components forled and body stretching exercises, as well as hand auxiliary componentsfor arm and body stretching exercises.

[0028] Advance plate movement is accomplished by repeat squeezing oftrigger 9 to advance bar 15 so as to move second end 23 toward housing3. Release button 29 holds bar 15 from moving end 23 away from housing3, but permits moving end 23 toward housing 3 when trigger 9 issqueezed. When button 29 is squeezed to unlock ratchet bar 15, secondend 23 may be pulled away from housing 3 to reset it for subsequent use.Release of button 29 allows spring 21 to automatically relock button 29to only permit one way movement (toward housing 3) of bar 15.

[0029]FIG. 2 shows one type of hand auxiliary component 50 used in thepresent invention device. Component 50 includes a handle member 51 withoptional finger grooves 53, 55, 57 and 59 and grip 61 as shown. On theopposite side is hook 63 for attachment to ring 27 of man ratchetcomponent 1 of FIG. 1. When main advance plate component 1 and handauxiliary component 50 are connected to one another, a user may holdhandle 7 in one hand and component 50 in the other hand, and whileholding the device as such, may move the hands overhead and behind theback with the arm of the hand of handle 7 outstretched. The user maythen repeatedly compress trigger 9 to shorten the distance of second end23 and housing 3 to effect arm and upper body stretching. Depression ofrelease button 29 will release the tension when the user has completedthe stretching exercises.

[0030] The ring 27 and hook 63 shown in FIG. 1 and 2 could easily besubstituted with any known attachment/detachment mechanism withoutexceeding the scope of the present invention. Likewise the particularhandle design, advance plate mechanism and release mechanism could bedesigned in a different fashion or placed in a different positionwithout exceeding the scope of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of, and the working mechanism of,main component 20. The FIG. 3 component of present invention comprises astraight bar 47 having a front end extending beyond truncated end 44,with an attachment means for an auxiliary component. It has a rear end43, a top edge 41, a bottom edge 48, and side walls, such as side wall42. The rear end 43 has a stop 52, as shown.

[0032] The handle portion 46 has a trigger 30 which is pivotally mountedtherein at 31 and which has its upper active head 32 extending into theupper portion 45 through opening 33. Within the hollow upper portion 45,the bar 47 has a control advancing plate 54 and a control release plate40 mounted thereon. The advancing plate 54 has an opening thereinthrough which the bar 47 extends. The plate 54 opening has upper andlower edges. A spring 39 is interposed between the rear wall 56 of theupper portion 45 and the advancing plate 35 in order to hold theadvancing plate 35 in a position substantially perpendicular to the bar47. In this position the upper and lower edges of the advance plate 35do not engage the upper and lower edges 41 and 48 of the bar 47 and donot affect the bar 47.

[0033] Between the advance plate 35 and the front wall 67 of the upperportion 45, there is a release plate 40 mounted thereon which also hasan opening therein through which the bar 47 extends. The opening ofrelease plate 40 has upper and lower edges and a lower portion. A spring64 is mounted between the release plate 40 and a collar 62 adjacent theadvancing plate 35. The release plate 40 is normally in a substantiallyangled position with its upper portion resting on pivot stop 49 and thelower portion resting on release button 66 on it upper edge bearingagainst the top edge 41 of the bar 47. In this position, the bar 47cannot move rearwardly because it is locked in place by the upper edgeof the opening in the release plate 40 bearing against the edge 41 ofbar 47. A release button 65 extends through an opening 65 in the lowerpart of the front wall 67 and bears against the lower portion 47 of therelease plate 40.

[0034] Referring again to FIG. 3, squeezing the trigger 30 with one handwill pivot the active head 32 of the trigger 30 so that it will pressagainst the lower portion of the advance plate 35 to angle it to causethe upper edge of the opening of advance plate 30 to bear against thetop edge 41 of the bar 47 and will move the bar 47 to the left of theFigure, to move its opposite end (broken end 44) toward the advanceplate component upper portion 45. When the trigger 30 is released, thespring 39 will move the advance plate 35 back to its angled position.When it is desired to move the bar 47 in the opposite direction, torelease it for pulling and resetting, the release button 66 is pressedinwardly with the thumb of the same hand that is holding a base portion46 in order to cause it to bear against the lower portion of the releaseplate 40 and move the release plate 40 around pivot stop 49 to aposition substantially perpendicular to the bar 47. This releases thehold or lock that the upper edge of the opening of release plate 40 hason the top edge 41 of the bar 47 and permits the bar 47 to be moved inthe opposite direction and thereby reset the device for reuse. When therelease button 66 is released, the spring 44 will move release plate 40back to its angled position thereby again locking the bar 47 againstrear end movement. By these movements, foot and/or arm, and/or bodystretching exercises may be achieved.

[0035]FIG. 4 illustrates a yoke 85, which is sometimes used inconnection with an auxiliary foot component, but may be used with anauxiliary hand component (such as for extra reach) or could even beattached to a wall eyelet for other exercises such as tilted upper armand body exercises. Yoke 85 includes three separate elongated members87, 89, and 91. They are connected to one another at the top end withhook 93 affixed thereto and with hook 95, 97, and 99 at the oppositeends. Elongated members, 87, 89, and 91 may be flexible or rigid, but ifrigid, should be hingeable at hook 93. Further details on yoke 85's usesare set forth below.

[0036]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a top and cut end view, respectively, of anauxiliary foot component 100 of the present invention. Identical partsare identically numbered in FIGS. 5 and 6. Auxiliary foot component 100includes a rigid base 101 with a front hook 103 and side eyelets 105 and107, opposing one another. Hook 103 is fixed and eyelets 105 and 107 arespringloaded and adjustable by front or back movement in tracks 109 and11, respectively. There is a set of foot straps 113 and 115 with buckles121 and 123, as well as heel strap 117 for attachment to a foot. Thisfoot mechanism is included for attachment of auxiliary foot component100 to a foot, but any known attachment mechanism could be used withoutexceeding the scope of the present invention. For example, boots couldbe affixed to rigid base 101, instead of the straps. Alternatively,quick release buckles such as are used on skis or even the types of footsecuring means found on water skis could be used.

[0037] Hook 103 may be attached directly to attachment ring 27 of mainadvance plate component 1 shown in FIG. 1 and by operating main advanceplate component 1 of FIG. 1 to shorten the distance between ratchet barsecond end 23 and housing 3, various leg and body stretching exercisesare accomplished, such as hamstring stretches.

[0038] Alternatively, yoke 85 of FIG. 4 may be used as aninterconnecting member between attachment ring 27 of FIG. 1 and hook 103of FIG. 5.

[0039] For other exercises, hooks 95, 97, and 99 of yoke 85 of FIG. 4may be attached to hook 103 and eyelets 105 and 107 of auxiliary footcomponent 100 of FIG. 5, to create a three-point hitch. For example,this arrangement may be used for spread eagle upper leg and abdominalexercises.

[0040] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention auxiliaryfoot component, wheels such as flat wheels or ball bearing wheels wouldbe included in the walls and/or the bottom of the rigid base asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0041] Referring specifically to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a partial sideview of another embodiment present invention auxiliary foot component140. The heal plate, straps and eyelets and hook described inconjunction with FIG. 5 and 6 above are included in this embodiment, butare not shown in the figure to avoid confusion. Auxiliary foot component140 includes a handle 143 and a plurality of side wheels around itsperiphery. In this case, these wheels are ballbearing wheels, but couldbe flat wheels, or any other type of wheels. Rigid base 41 hasballbearing wheels such as wheels 149, 151, and 153 along its side andsimilar wheels such as wheel 47 along its back, as well as along itsfront 145. These wheels enable a user to lay on his or her back or sideand to move the auxiliary foot components with the heals, sides or toesin contact with a floor so as to smoothly roll therealong duringexercises.

[0042]FIG. 8 shows another auxiliary foot component 160, which is thesame as that described for FIG. 7 above except that wheels are alsoincluded on the underside or bottom. Thus, rigid base 161 has a handle163 at its front 165 and wheels such as wheels 167, 169, 171 and 173along its periphery. Bottom wheels are also included such as wheels 175,177 and 179. Besides the uses described above with respect to FIG. 7,this component may be held at handle 163 and rolled around on a floorfor arm and body exercises.

[0043]FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment present invention mainratchet component 200. In this case, it has two sets of bars instead ofone. Housing 201 has a right side 203 and a left side 205. Each side hasits own bar 213 and 215, respectively, with separate releases 209 and211. Advance plate push bar 207 has internal travelers in both left andright directions to simultaneously move advance plates and bars 213 and215. While this embodiment involves more parts and is more expensive toconstruct, it does offer more strength and balance than the preferredembodiment showed in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0044] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular component leg and body stretchingdevice, which comprises: (a) a main advance plate component having ahandle and at least one bar functionally connected to and capable ofpassing through said handle, said handle containing a one directionaladvance plate mechanism and a trigger wherein when said trigger isdepressed, said advance plate mechanism advances said at least one baradvances toward said handle, said handle also having a release mechanismto release said at least one bar from said advance plate mechanism, saidbar having auxiliary component attachment means at one end thereof; and,(b) a foot auxiliary component attachable to said attachment means ofsaid at least one bar for leg and body exercise, said foot auxiliarycomponent having a rigid base for placement of a foot thereon, havingfoot securing means to hold said base to a foot and having at least onemain advance plate component attachment means for attachment to saidattachment means of said at least one bar.
 2. The modular component legand body stretching device of claim 1 wherein said securing means ofsaid foot auxiliary component is a toe attachment means located on afront area of said rigid base.
 3. The modular component leg and bodystretching device of claim 1 wherein said securing means of said footauxiliary component is two separate side attachment means, one beinglocated on a first side of said rigid base and another being located ona second side of said rigid base, and located opposite one another. 4.The modular component leg and body stretching device of claim 1 whereinsaid securing means of said foot auxiliary component includes a toeattachment means located on a front area of said rigid base and at leasttwo separate side attachment means, one being located on a first side ofsaid rigid base and another being located on a second side of said rigidbase, and located opposite one another.
 5. The modular component leg andbody stretching device of claim 4 wherein which further includes: (a) ayoke having three separate elongated members, each having a first and asecond end and being connected to one another at said first end andhaving means for attachment to said main advance plate component saidfirst end, and each being unconnected to one another at said second end.6. The modular component leg and body stretching device of claim 1wherein said main advance plate component has two parallel bars.
 7. Themodular component leg and body stretching device of claim 1 wherein oneof said auxiliary component attachment means and said main ratchetcomponent attachment means is an eyelet and the other is a hook adaptedto connect to said eyelet.
 8. The modular component leg and bodystretching device of claim 1 wherein said foot auxiliary componentfurther includes a handle extended over a portion of a top of saidcomponent, and a plurality of wheels on its underside thereof forhandle-held prone arm and body exercises.
 9. The modular component legand arm body stretching device of claim 8 wherein said plurality ofwheels is a plurality of ball bearing wheels adopted to permit X and Ydirection motion.
 10. A modular component arm and body stretchingdevice, which comprises: (a) a main advance plate component having ahandle and at least one bar functionally connected to and capable ofpassing through said handle, said handle containing a one directionalmechanism and a trigger wherein when said trigger is depressed, saidadvance plate mechanism advances said at least one bar toward saidhandle, said handle also having a release mechanism to release said atleast one bar from said advance plate mechanism, said bar havingauxiliary component attachment means at one end thereof; and, (b) a handauxiliary component attachable to said attachment means of said at leastone ratchet bar for arm and body exercises, said hand auxiliarycomponent having a handle for placement of a hand thereon and having atleast one main advance plate component attachment means for attachmentto said attachment means of said at least one bar.
 11. The modularcomponent arm and body stretching device of claim 10 wherein said handauxiliary component includes a handle, a rigid brace member connected tosaid handle and at least one attachment means connected to said rigidbrace member for attachment to said attachment means of said at leastone ratchet bar.
 12. The modular component arm and body stretchingdevice of claim 10 wherein one of said auxiliary component attachmentmeans and said main advance plate component attachment means is aneyelet and the other is a hook adapted to connect to said eyelet.
 13. Amodular component leg, arm, and body stretching device, which comprises:(a) a main advance plate component having a handle and at least one barfunctionally connected to and capable of passing through said handle,said handle containing a one directional advance plate mechanism and atrigger wherein when said trigger is depressed, said advance platemechanism advances said at least one bar toward said handle, said handlealso having a release mechanism to release said at least one bar fromsaid advance plate mechanism, said ratchet bar having auxiliarycomponent attachment means at one end thereof; (b) a foot auxiliarycomponent attachable to said attachment means of said at least one barfor leg and body exercise, said foot auxiliary component having a rigidbase for placement of a foot thereon, having foot securing means to holdsaid base to a foot and having at least one main advance plate componentattachment means for attachment to said attachment means of said atleast one bar; and, (c) a hand auxiliary component attachable to saidattachment means of said at least one bar for arm and body exercises,said hand auxiliary component having a handle for placement of a handthereon and having at least one main advance plate component attachmentmeans for attachment to said attachment means of said at least one bar.14. The modular component leg, arm, and body stretching device of claim13 wherein said securing means of said foot auxiliary component is a toeattachment means located on a front area of said rigid base.
 15. Themodular component leg, arm, and body stretching device of claim 13wherein said securing means of said foot auxiliary component is twoseparate side attachment means, one being located on a first side ofsaid rigid base and another being located on a second side of said rigidbase, and located opposite one another.
 16. The modular component leg,arm, and body stretching device of claim 13 wherein said securing meansof said foot auxiliary component includes a toe attachment means locatedon a front area of said rigid base and at least two separate sideattachment means, one being located on a first side of said rigid baseand another being located on a second side of said rigid base, andlocated opposite one another.
 17. The modular component leg, arm, andbody stretching device of claim 16 wherein which further includes: (d) ayoke having three separate elongated members, each having a first and asecond end and being connected to one another at said first end andhaving means for attachment to said main advance plate component saidfirst end, and each being unconnected to one another at said second end.18. The modular component leg, arm, and body stretching device of claim13 wherein one of said auxiliary component attachment means and saidmain advance plate component attachment means is an eyelet and the otheris a hook adapted to connect to said eyelet.
 19. The modular componentleg, arm, and body stretching device of claim 13 wherein said footauxiliary component further includes a handle extended over a portion ofa top of said component, and a plurality of wheels on its undersidethereof for handle-held prone arm and body exercises.
 20. The modularcomponent leg, arm, and body stretching device of claim 13 wherein saidhand auxiliary component includes a handle, a rigid brace memberconnected to said handle and at least one attachment means connected tosaid rigid brace member for attachment to said attachment means of saidat least one bar.